Ivonne Bejarano has more than 15 years’ experience in oceanographic research. She has worked in innovative education initiatives with prestigious international scientific agencies, such as NOAA, NASA, UNESCO and Sea Grant. Before joining AUS, she worked with Emirates Nature-WWF on local conservation projects and led research and education projects in Jebel Ali Marine Sanctuary as Director of Marine Conservation in Emirates Marine Environmental Group in Dubai. Her areas of research and teaching interest are conservation biology, spatial ecology, ecosystem based management, coastal and marine habitats and populations, environmental modeling and climate change.